Daily Republican., 1887-09-17
vindicating Captain Drew.


Sometime ago an item went the
rounds Of the papers In reference to the
DeBrsak treasures in Delaware Bay,
which stated that Captain Drew did
not cOmma0d HE Britannia Majesty Is
sloop OF. war DeBraak when be lest his
life at the Capes, but wss on Q priv
Ing cruise, which Was but little removed
from piracy itself.
Dur kin ". r. johnson, Assistant
State Librarian Of the New York State
Library at Albany, writes to the New
York Herald that he WAS led to exam
inc into the facts Of the wreck OF the
British Eloop OF wsr DeBraak, at the
mouth OF the Delaware Bay, by rf fading
the scoount Of that famous disaster and
of DIR. Seth Panooast's recent efforts to
find the treasures believed to have gona
down with the DeBraAk, and that the
following is the result Of his researches,
which is published by request:
"As 1898 seemed rather late for pi-
racy In the neighborhood OF Philadel.
phia determined TO make an investi-
cation Of the facts Of the Case. But my
absence from my authorities has pre-
vented my 30 doing until now. How
ever, have made an examination and
at this late dale deaire TO publish the
truth rs history has rev ealed It,
81. James Drew WAS commissioned
lieutenant In tho Royal Navy, July 80.
1776; master and com mander, Decem-
Der l, 1887, and took rank rs post cap
tain In 1880. Hs commanded. in order,
the Echo, Fly and pa Braak sloops OF
war. (Sse Debrett's Royal Kslendsr
and Annual Register from 1776 to
1898; 5teel's Naval ChronoloRist OF wsr
from 1893 to 1901 James' Naval His
tory OF Great Britain 81 ed. vol. H., p.
1922
"2 The De- Braak was o Duth ma.
tlonal chip detained at falmouth by
the Fortune (F. Wooldridge), Angus,
20, 1875. Afterwsrd In the British
service, and lost on May %, 1893. She
was commissioned In 1898 under the
command Of Captain James Drew and
attached to the feet off the Western
Islands She was lost, as above, In the
Delaware. (See same authorities al
above and the 'Gentlemsn's Magazine
and Historical Chronicle, vol. LXVIII
page 618)
"Allow me, however, to offer for pub
lication o contemporane0us detailed &C
count of the loss of the DeBraAk, pub
lished In London. July, 1898:
PHILADELPHIA, May 81, 1898. .-Hit
Britannia Msjesty's sloop of.war d,
Braak, Captain Drew, ovsrsss In Old
Kiln Roads about 4 O'Clock last Friday
afternoon. She was at the time unds
maiDsail ard reefed topsails, just abou
to cast anchor, o mile from this light
house, her boat alongside, waiting 70
the captain, who intended to so on shor'
ut Lewes Town; a sudden slew OF win(
laid her on her beam ends; she i'm me
diately filled and went down with Cap
tain Drew, bis lieutenant, and thirty
eight officers, seaman and marines. Tn
rest of the ships company, about twon
ty.fve, including the boats vain, es
capped In the boats, and several wer
taken up by pilot boat. The DeBrsai
parted with the feet off the Western
Islands in chase of strange sail ant
was unable to Join the convoy. Abou
twenty-five days ago she fell In will
and captured q Spanish ship from l.
I Plata. bound to Spain, with very va
uab!e cargo, consisting Of 200 tons o
copper, q quantity of cocoa, etc. Th
prize Is arrived In the Delaware.
Twelve OF the prisoners we're lost Il
the s,oop-of war. The surviving Span
iBn prisoners nave deem brought I
Philadelphia and given to the agents O
Spain. The crew Of the DeBraak con
sisted of eighty three persons Ia all
about half Of whom were saved, incluG
ing those who were in the prize. TIL
officers left alive are the prizs maste 7
q midshipman and the boatswain. Thi
melancholy accident ts heightened b.
the captains lady being SO near as New
York, where she was every hour in an Z
ious expectation Of meeting him. Th
prize lies st the fcrt.'
~ hope that the investors In the In
ternational Submarine Company ma,
derive much comfort from this account
for, IL 1t is true, they are not likely I
derive much gold from the wreck. A
any rate, gold or no gold, let them leav
off defaming the grave OF the dead com
mander of His Msjssty's oop OF wa
DeBraak.